BLOG TOUR: The Bone Hacker - Kathy Reichs

EVEN ON AN ISLAND PARADISE, DANGER STILL LURKS.

Called in to examine what is left of a body struck by lightning, Tempe traces an unusual tattoo to its source and is soon embroiled in a much larger case. Young men – tourists – have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos for years. Seven years ago, the first victim was found with both hands cut off; the other visitors vanished without a trace. But recently, tantalizing leads have emerged and only Tempe can unravel them.

Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common – other than the unusual locations where their bodies are eventually found, and the fact that the young men all seem to be the least likely to be involved in foul play. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ seething culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure. And then she turns up disturbing clues that what’s at stake may actually have global significance.

It isn’t long before the sound of a ticking clock grows menacingly loud, and then Tempe herself becomes a target.

 

What did I think?

The Bone Hacker is book 22 in the outstanding Temperance Brennan series and it's another gripping instalment.  You can totally read it as a standalone as it has its own storyline but it might read a little strangely if you don't know Tempe's character.

It starts with a bang, or rather a flash of lightning, and my heart rate shot up right at the start as a storm hits Quebec with Tempe right in the middle of it.  Of course Kathy Reichs isn't going to kill off her main character right at the start of the book, but it felt pretty scary and intense, even though I knew Tempe wasn't going to become a victim of the storm.

I think because I watched the TV show Bones, I could really pick up Tempe's voice in this book. Anyone new to the books might find her a little strange as she is so logical and a little socially challenged but I absolutely love her.  I also felt as if I was part of the investigation with Tempe going into so much detail about her forensic work.

A lot of the chapters have little cliffhangers at the end that make you want to keep reading so I raced through it.  It went in a completely different direction to what I expected and my heart rate shot up once again near the end.

Brilliantly written as you would expect from Kathy Reichs, The Bone Hacker is a gripping, fast-paced and intricately plotted thriller.  It goes without saying that Tempe Brennan fans will love it and anyone new to the series at this point is sure to become a big fan.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tourand this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Kathy Reichs’s first novel Déjà Dead, published in 1997, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was an international bestseller. Kathy was also a producer of Fox Television’s longest running scripted drama Bones, which is based on her work and her novels. Kathy uses her own dramatic experiences as a forensic anthropologist to bring her mesmerizing thrillers to life. One of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Kathy divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Montreal, Québec.

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BLOG TOUR: The Butcher and the Wren - Alaina Urquhart

WREN WAS NEVER AFRAID OF THE DARK. UNTIL SHE LEARNED THAT SOME MONSTERS ARE REAL . . .

In deep Louisiana, a serial killer with a taste for medical experimentation is completing his most ambitious project yet. The media call him 'The Butcher' - and, so far, he's proved impossible to catch.

With her encyclopaedic knowledge of humanity's darkest minds, and years of experience examining their victims, forensic pathologist Dr Wren Muller is the best there is. The longer the Butcher's killing spree continues, the more determined she is to bring him to justice.

And yet, he continues to elude her.

As body after body piles up on Wren's examination table, her obsession grows. Pressure to put an end to the slaughter mounts. And her enemy becomes more brazen.

How far is Wren willing to go to draw the Butcher into the light . . .?

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed The Butcher and the Wren and I read it in two sittings, although it is only 242 pages long.  I love the book title with 'The Butcher' being a serial killer and 'The Wren' being Dr Wren Muller, a forensic pathologist who is determined to end The Butcher's reign of terror.

The story is very fast-paced and incredibly intriguing, which kept me turning pages as fast as I possibly could.  There are plenty of shocks and surprises in store for the reader and several twists that I didn't see coming.  The writing is excellent and I found it really easy to visualise the often grisly scenes thanks to the fantastic descriptions.

Wren is a brilliant character and i hope there is more to come for her, especially as the ending gave the impression that there is unfinished business.  I definitely want to read more of Alaina Urquhart's writing anyway, whether Wren is included or not.

Chilling, gruesome and tense, The Butcher and the Wren is very well written and incredibly difficult to put down.  You can judge this book by the cover as the inside is as dark as the outside.  A very enjoyable read and well worth picking up if you're a fan of dark crime thrillers.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Dark Objects - Simon Toyne

An Impossible Crime Scene

A wealthy woman is found brutally murdered in the locked fortress of her London mansion. Surrounding her are four mysterious objects, including a book on forensics by Dr Laughton Rees.

An Inescapable Past

As a teenager, Laughton’s life was destroyed after witnessing her mother’s brutal murder. Now a mother herself and forensic analyst, she is an expert on how to read crime scenes – but never works live cases.

An Uncatchable Killer

Pressured by the lead detective to help with the investigation, Laughton begins to realise that the objects left by the body are not just about the victim, they’re also about her. Her childhood was destroyed by one killer. Now she must catch another before her daughter’s is destroyed too.

 

What did I think?

Yowzers what a book!  Dark Objects is fantastic!  I've had Simon Toyne on my radar for quite some time but this is the first book of his that I have read and I couldn't put it down.  I absolutely loved it and it's one of the best books I've read this year.

The murder of Kate Miller in a wealthy part of London shocks her neighbours and sends their WhatsApp group into a frenzy, especially when they discover that Kate's husband is missing and becomes the prime suspect.  The police have no leads as the crime scene is forensically clean, thanks to a book left at the scene that was written by Laughton Rees, the police commissioner's daughter.  Someone wants to drag Laughton back into the spotlight and into danger.

There's so much going on in this book that it's gripping from start to finish.  Aside from the murder and the tantalizing link to Laughton, there's her broken relationship with her father and her fractured relationship with her daughter.  The murder is very intriguing as it seems to be impossible to solve and I loved how it draws Laughton into working with the overworked and underfed DCI Tannahill Khan.

Flawlessly written and intricately plotted, Dark Objects is as impossible to predict as it is to put down.  If I could only recommend one book this year, Dark Objects would be a very strong contender.  Very highly recommended and a well deserved five stars.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: An Eye for an Eye (Detective Kate Young #1) - Carol Wyer

 

A killer running rings around the police. A detective spiralling out of control.

DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.

But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police. Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.

As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide. But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?

What did I think?

Wow, what a novel.  This is an amazing start to a new detective series and I, for one, am completely hooked.  With an ending that both satisfied me and left me hungry for more, I've already done my research and spotted that the next book in the series is due out in June 2021 (yippee!).

Detective Kate Young is a very interesting character; she's in a kind of intermediate state between fragility and resilience after being brought back from her leave, with some of her team questioning whether she's ready to return.  The case is personal to her superior so he wants the best to investigate it but by disregarding Kate's wellbeing you do wonder whether he has an ulterior motive.

Whilst investigating a potential serial killer, Kate is haunted by flashbacks of a former crime scene and you can really feel her struggling to keep her grip on reality.  The flashbacks themselves are horrifying and made my pulse race as Kate replays the scene over and over, getting a little further each time to really build up tension. Being put in charge of such a high profile case, I often felt that Kate was torn between her heart wanting to numb the pain and her head wanting the return of the astute detective she is known to be.

This isn't just another police procedural though, it also delves into forensics and their role in crime solving.  I loved this aspect of the story and felt it added another dimension to the plot, making it feel like I was reading true crime.  Clearly, it's not just Kate who needed to keep her grip on reality!

I don't think any review I write will do this book justice.  It's simply brilliant and I loved every minute of it.   I was enjoying it so much I even forgot to try to work out who the killer was - now if that's not the sign of a good book, I don't know what is!  Impossible to put down and gripping from start to finish, An Eye for an Eye is an exceptional crime thriller from a hugely talented and very prolific writer; it's not only very highly recommended it's an absolute must read.

Many thanks to Carol Wyer for sending me a copy of her book to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

USA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction. 

A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in LITTLE GIRL LOST and demonstrated that stand-up comedian Carol had found her true niche.

To date, her crime novels have sold over 750,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ''Irritable Male Syndrome' and 'Ageing Disgracefully' and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy... who is very, very grumpy.

When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

Social Media:

Website www.carolwyer.co.uk

Blog www.carolwyer.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolEWyer/

Twitter https://twitter.com/carolewyer

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carolwyer

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/carolewyer

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-wyer-407b1032

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14925467.Carol_Wyer

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5O-lvkAYO19S0AMW8VqJQ

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18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics - Bruce Goldfarb

For most of human history, sudden and unexpected deaths of a suspicious nature, when they were investigated at all, were examined by lay persons without any formal training. People often got away with murder. Modern forensic investigation originates with Frances Glessner Lee - a pivotal figure in police science.

Frances Glessner Lee (1878-1962), born a socialite to a wealthy and influential Chicago family, was never meant to have a career, let alone one steeped in death and depravity. Yet she became the mother of modern forensics and was instrumental in elevating homicide investigation to a scientific discipline.

Frances Glessner Lee learned forensic science under the tutelage of pioneering medical examiner Magrath - he told her about his cases, gave her access to the autopsy room to observe post-mortems and taught her about poisons and patterns of injury. A voracious reader too, Lee acquired and read books on criminology and forensic science - eventually establishing the largest library of legal medicine.

Lee went on to create The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death - a series of dollhouse-sized crime scene dioramas depicting the facts of actual cases in exquisitely detailed miniature - and perhaps the thing she is most famous for. Celebrated by artists, miniaturists and scientists, the Nutshell Studies are a singularly unusual collection. They were first used as a teaching tool in homicide seminars at Harvard Medical School in the 1930s, and then in 1945 the homicide seminar for police detectives that is the longest-running and still the highest-regarded training of its kind in America. Both of which were established by the pioneering Lee.

In 18 Tiny Deaths, Bruce Goldfarb weaves Lee's remarkable story with the advances in forensics made in her lifetime to tell the tale of the birth of modern forensics.

What did I think?

I've always had a keen interest in forensics, not just from reading lots of crime but I think my natural attention to detail and logical thought processes fit in well with forensic science.  Alas, I chose numbers over crime scenes but my love of forensics lives on vicariously through all of the crime books that I read.

I picked up 18 Tiny Deaths expecting to take a week or so to read with it being non-fiction, but Bruce Goldfarb has written such a compelling and fascinating account of Frances Glessner Lee's life that I couldn't put it down.  I think it is the first non-fiction book that I have had glued to my hand until I had read it cover to cover.

As much as it is the story of Frances Glessner Lee's personal life, it is also the story of the birth of modern forensics.  We take it for granted that fingerprints can be used to identify a criminal and dental records can be used to identify a victim but I didn't know that Frances Glessner Lee was instrumental in developing these processes.  For a woman born in the late 19th Century, that's no mean feat: indeed, Frances Glessner Lee was a woman living in a man's world but her invaluable attention to detail made her voice heard.

I am completely blown away by the Glessner Lee's Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death; a collection of highly detailed miniature murder scenes, much like a doll's house.  The time and patience that must have gone into making them is awe-inspiring and to think that Frances Glessner Lee created them herself, at great expense, is absolutely astonishing.  Photos are included in the book but you can see these dioramas, which are still used in forensic training, on the Smithsonian American Art Museum by clicking here.

Bruce Goldfarb has written one of the most compelling non-fiction books I have ever read about a fascinating, influential and completely remarkable woman.  I loved the inclusion of some real, and often horrific, cases that inspired Glessner Lee to advance forensic science in a way that was well beyond its time.  18 Tiny Deaths is an outstanding book that captivated me from start to finish, like no non-fiction book has ever done before.  A very highly recommended read and one that will inevitably result in further research to see the amazing nutshell models in further detail.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




About the author:

A former EMT/paramedic, Bruce has written for national and local newspapers, magazines, and online publications. He has also written or edited several textbooks and reference books. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Social Media:
Twitter: @bruce_goldfarb
Instagram: @eighteentinydeaths
Website: brucegoldfarb.com










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BLOG TOUR: A Shadow on the Lens - Sam Hurcom

The Postmaster looked over my shoulder. As I turned to look I saw a flicker of movement from across the street. I felt unseen eyes peer at me. 

He walked away without another word. I watched as he climbed onto his bicycle and sped away down the street. I turned back and looked over my shoulder. 

Someone had been watching us.

1904. Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, is called to the sleepy and remote Welsh village of Dinas Powys, several miles down the coast from the thriving port of Cardiff. A young girl by the name of Betsan Tilny has been found murdered in the woodland - her body bound and horribly burnt. But the crime scene appears to have been staged, and worse still: the locals are reluctant to help.

As the strange case unfolds, Thomas senses a growing presence watching him, and try as he may, the villagers seem intent on keeping their secret. Then one night, in the grip of a fever, he develops the photographic plates from the crime scene in a makeshift darkroom in the cellar of his lodgings. There, he finds a face dimly visible in the photographs; a face hovering around the body of the dead girl - the face of Betsan Tilny.

What did I think?

I enjoy reading both historical fiction and crime thrillers so my interest was already piqued when I read the blurb of A Shadow on the Lens.  Then when I read that the book is set in the small Welsh village of Dinas Powys, which is where my maternal great great great grandfather was born in 1827, I just had to read it.  My ancestor had moved to the North East by 1904 (which is when this story is set), maybe leaving brothers and sisters in Dinas Powys, so I was very excited to read a book set in the village he left behind; although no Norris's featured in the story.

It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of the book but the murder of Betsan Tilny is so very intriguing that it keeps the pages turning nicely.  A forensic photographer is summoned to the village to investigate the crime and this was the first oddity to intrigue me - why a photographer and not a police inspector?  It soon becomes clear that the locals want Thomas Bexley to simply take his photos and leave their village without discovering who or what has committed the crime.  Everyone in the village appears to be hiding something so the sooner Thomas is gone the better.  

We take it for granted these days that we take a photo and see it instantly but there's something so very mystical and magical about developing photographs and back in 1904 (only a few years after the Kodak Brownie was introduced) photos were developed on plates in a dark room.  When Thomas develops his photographs he can't believe his eyes as the murder victim appears as a ghostly apparition.  When Thomas is suddenly struck down with a fever and his negatives disappear, he wonders if he imagined it all but he remembers clues from the photographs that he couldn't possibly have known about beforehand.  This puts him in more danger than he could ever have imagined.

I loved the spooky supernatural element to the story which really makes A Shadow on the Lens something different.  Encompassing so many genres means that it will appeal to crime, historical and fantasy readers, which is not something that many books can claim to do.  A Shadow on the Lens is a spooky, goosebumpy, gothic-style historical crime thriller and a fantastic debut from Sam Hurcom.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Sam Hurcom was born in Dinas Powys, South Wales in 1991. He studied Philosophy at Cardiff University, attaining both an undergraduate and master's degree. He has since had several short stories published and has written and illustrated a number of children's books. Sam currently lives in the village he was raised in, close to the woodlands that have always inspired his writing.

A SHADOW ON THE LENS is Sam's debut novel.

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BLOG BLITZ: Under the Woods (The Forensic Files #4) - K.A. Richardson

When a homeless woman, Cheryl Whiffen, hears voices in her head telling her to do bad things, she can’t help but obey.

But when Cheryl becomes the victim of a serial killer who is collecting angels, this time the voices can’t help her. She is deemed not worthy of being an angel and the killer has to find another way to dispose of her body.

TJ Tulley has connections in the police force – her brother Jacob is a digital forensic analyst and her soon to be sister-in-law is a CSI. She knows many of their colleagues so when someone breaks into her house at the riding stables she owns, it’s not a surprise when the police dispatch CSI Jackson Doherty.

Is there a link between a suspicious fire at the stables and the serial killer?

As TJ and Doherty get closer to the truth they don’t realise the danger they are in. He is a killer – he’s angry at their investigation and he’ll do just about anything to protect his angels…

What did I think?

I knew from the cover and the title that this was going to be dark and creepy but I didn't realise just how much it would unnerve me.  I haven't read any of the previous books in the series so I can definitely say that this book can be read as a standalone, although there are a few references to previous events that I suspect happened in the earlier books.  It didn't affect my enjoyment of this book in any way as the author is so skilled at seamlessly weaving enough of the back-story into the narrative to flesh out the characters I was encountering for the first time.

TJ Tully wants to expand her riding stables into the woods surrounding her property but somebody already thinks of the woods as their own and they have invested lots of time in burying their 'angels' under the woods.  The killer will do anything to keep this special place as there are still angels to collect and bury there.  TJ seems to have a run of bad luck after a break in and a fire threaten to destroy her stables but there is worse to come and even her angry busybody neighbour can't escape the cruel hand of Lady (Bad) Luck.

CSI Jackson Doherty has a lot on his plate; Jackson is called on to investigate the strange events at TJ's stables but he can't seem to escape his personal life.  After a one night stand, he's landed himself with a stalker, Nikki.  Nikki seems to know his every movements and turns up at the most unlikely of places when she perceives TJ to be a threat to her happily ever after with Jackson.  I loved this aspect to the story; Nikki is an absolute fruitcake!

What I loved about Under the Woods (apart from it being set in my native North East) is that you don't have to wait until the end for a big reveal; the killer is revealed about two thirds of the way through.  You might expect the pace to drop after that but it is actually the complete opposite as the danger levels seemed to increase to epic proportions.  Once I knew who was collecting these 'angels', I felt as if the story became even more creepy (if that's even possible, as it's pretty creepy to start with).  I felt my heart rate quicken and I even began holding my breath at times as the killer's confidence seemed to grow as time went on.

With K.A. Richardson's remarkable attention to gruesome detail, Under the Woods is a Creepfest with a capital C; I can feel my heart pounding just thinking about it.  It's one of those books that you live and breathe with every page and definitely one to read with all the lights on or you'll find yourself jumping at shadows.  K.A. Richardson's Under the Woods totally creeped me out and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I certainly won't be going down to the woods anytime soon.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon



About the author:

My name is Kerry-Ann Richardson (generally known as Kerry) and I write as KA Richardson. I started writing the North East Police series in 2010 when I was working towards my MA Creative Writing – I used the first 15000 words of With Deadly Intent as my dissertation. I passed my MA in 2011 and kept on writing. This all came about from working as a Crime Scene Investigator – I’d always written but when I was a CSI I went to see a psychic, Anthony, and he wanted to know why I wasn’t writing. He reminded me that it was my passion and said he could see me signing in Waterstones in 5 years. That was 5.5 years before my first ever signing in Waterstones so he wasn’t far wrong!

I did the normal things writers do when their book is ready to go out into the world – submitted to agents etc. I got a few nice personal responses back – still saying no but being constructive and polite about it. I approached Darren Laws from Caffeine Nights whilst at a crime festival and he asked to see my work. He agreed to publish With Deadly Intent from there, and once that was out I approached Bloodhound Books as wanted to know if there was any other interest in my novels. Bloodhound came back within 24 hours and offered me a 3 book deal! And I’ve since signed an additional 3 book deal with them which covers the series up to and including book 7!

Links:

Website: www.kerryannrichardson.com

Twitter: @kerryann77 or @karichardson77

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ka.richardsonwriter

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/K.A.-Richardson/e/B01D58WOV6/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1491858252&sr=8-2-ent

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